Interview with Dr. Edith Eva Eger, author of The Gift

Dr. Edith Eva Eger, international bestselling author of The Choice, about her newest New York Times bestselling book, The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life joins the San Diego Writers Festival, in conversation with Phyllis Olins, award-winning conflict resolution counselor, and author of How Not to Be a Jerk (or a Victim): Journaling from Conflict to Healthy Relationships in Eight Easy Steps.

Dr. Eger’s powerful first book The Choice told the story of her survival in the concentration camps, her escape, her healing, and her journey to freedom. Oprah Winfrey says, “I will be forever changed by Dr. Eger’s story.” Thousands of people worldwide wrote Dr. Eger to share how The Choice inspired them to confront the past and try to heal their pain—and many readers asked her to write another, more “how-to” book. The Gift is just such a book. In it, Dr. Eger expands on her message of healing and provides a hands-on guide that gently encourages us to change the thoughts and behaviors that may be keeping us imprisoned in the past.

Dr. Eger explains the worst prison she experienced was not the one the Nazis put her in, but the one she created for herself—the prison within her own mind. She describes the twelve most pervasive imprisoning beliefs she has known—including fear, grief, anger, secrets, stress, guilt, shame, and avoidance—and the tools she has discovered to deal with these universal challenges. Accompanied by stories from Dr. Eger’s own life and the lives of her patients, each chapter includes thought-provoking questions and takeaways. Filled with empathy, insight, and humor, The Gift captures the vulnerability and common challenges we all face and provides encouragement and advice for breaking out of our personal prisons to find healing and enjoy life.

Event Sponsor: Will Cooper, Playwright of The Book of Leaves

Meet the Speakers

A native of Hungary, Dr. Edith Eva Eger was just a teenager in 1944 when she experienced one of the worst evils the human race has ever known. As a Jew living in Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe, she and her family were sent to Auschwitz, the heinous death camp.

Phyllis Olins holds a master’s degree in counseling and has trained extensively in conflict mediation. She was appointed to the California State Advisory Commission for at-risk intervention and was awarded by the San Diego County of Education in May of 2009 for work in community relations. She has had over 20 years of experience in applying counseling and conflict-mediation strategies to dilemmas in all walks of life.